Przevalski's Finch

Overview

Przevalski's finch is an unusual passerine bird endemic to the mountains of central-west China. It was long considered a finch or bunting but is now recognised as the sole member of the family Urocynchramidae.

Identification

• Resembles the long-tailed rosefinch in size and general shape.
• Males display bright pink on the throat, breast and belly, while both sexes have brown streaked plumage on the back and wings.
• Possesses a long, graduated tail with outer feathers much shorter than the central ones, unlike typical finches.
• The bill is thinner than that of rosefinches, and the outer primary is two-thirds the length of the next primary.

Habitat

The species inhabits high elevations between 3,050 and 5,000 metres in the mountains of central-west China. It is typically observed in pairs during the breeding season and in small flocks during the winter.

Did you know?

The bird's song was described by Nikolai Przhevalsky as being similar to that of buntings. Its taxonomic affinities remained unclear for a long time, leading to various common names such as the pink-tailed bunting and Przewalski's rosefinch before it was placed in its own family.